Red Cross holds Communities that Care drive

American Red Cross Donor Specialist Sandy Benjamin assists Grand Islander Bob Richards in completing his donation of blood during the Communities that Care blood drive on Dec. 27 at the Big House, Grand Island Fire Co. headquarters on Baseline Road. Richards was one of 41 blood donors on the day. (photo by Larry Austin)

Grand Island was a participating town in the Communities that Care
blood drive for the American Red Cross on Dec. 27.

In all, Islanders donated 41 units of blood at Grand Island Fire
Co. headquarters. The drive is one the Red Cross plans to do every year on the
Island around the holidays, when donations lag.

"We really need the help around this of year," said Sara Harvey,
account manager, donor services, for the American Red Cross. "People don't
think about donating and how important it is."

Summer is another slow time for donations, Harvey said. A healthy
person can donate blood every 56 days, she said.

"A lot of people donate once and then they don't donate again.
They think their job is done because they've done it once, but it's an ongoing
thing and the need is always there," Harvey said.

An estimated 20 percent of people who are admitted to the hospital
need blood, such as cancer patients, burn victims and premature babies, Harvey
said.

"Every day in the hospital somebody is using the blood, but only
about 5 percent of the eligible population donates," she said.

The next American Red Cross blood drive on the Island is Tuesday,
Feb. 21, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus. The next drive at the
GIFC is Tuesday, March 6, from 1 to 6:30 p.m.

The record on GI for
a one-day blood drive is 94 units, collected Sept. 12, 2001, a day after the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Part of the task for the Red Cross is to publicize
the availability of blood drives, so that it won't take another emergency to
spur the public to donate.

"The more people that participate, the more that we get the word
out," said Lisa Highway, Red Cross recruitment manager. "The more they know of
the drive, then the more they're willing to help us."

"If people are looking for more
opportunities to donate, they can visit www.redcrossblood.org
or call 1-800-REDCROSS for dates/locations of drives in the area," Harvey said.